The Shine Chapter Port Elizabeth

As children move out of their Foundation Phase school years (Grade R to Three), the focus shifts from learning to read to reading to learn. Children who struggle to read will find it hard to learn across all subject areas and are therefore at risk of falling behind in their education.

If we fail to address poor literacy rates in these crucially important Foundation Phase learning years, too many children will continue to drop out of school, or struggle to matriculate with grades that are good enough to allow further studies. As a result they are unlikely to find meaningful employment that would enable them to become economically active citizens, able to provide for themselves and their family.

The Shine Centre believes that teaching a child to read is the first step towards life-long learning. The Shine Centre aims to inspire South Africa to achieve our vision: a nation of readers.”

At the end of 2013 Walmer Angel Projects started a partnership with the Shine Foundation based in Cape Town with the aim of establishing a Literacy Programme or Chapter in the Walmer Township. It is through this partnership the Shine Chapter Port Elizabeth was born.

Volunteers have been trained continuously by Marcelle Brock as they become available; a Shine Chapter at the Walmer Lower Primary School has been opened and is fully functioning. Currently we are working with 70 Grade 2 learners and have 30 active volunteers doing sessions every week.

If you are interested in training to become a volunteer, email Marcelle at brock@telkomsa.net.

At the end of each year assessment/progress tests are carried out on the learners on the Shine programme. We are always ecstatic by the growth of the children in such a short period of time. This has been a great motivator for all concerned and 2016 certainly can only bring more growth and better learning experiences for all the children we reach at Lower Walmer Primary School. We also have had an increase in the public interest as more volunteers become available more children will be reached thus our goal of “creating a nation of readers” will be realised through hard work and dedication.